From December 9th to 10th, the 2019 International Chinese Language Education Conference was held in Changsha, Hunan Province. Madam Sun Chunlan, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council delivered a keynote speech at the conference. Themed on “Innovation and Development of International Chinese Language Education in the New Era”, the conference has attracted over 1,000 representatives from Confucius Institutes and Chinese language education organizations in 160 countries and regions. The attendees had in-depth discussions on “Chinese Language + Vocational Skills”, policies, standards, teaching materials, teaching methods, exam arrangements, and branding of international Chinese language education, as well as how to further international cooperation.
Prof. Yang Zhenbin, Chair of the University Council, Jilin University, was invited to attend the conference. Prof. Zhao Hongwei, Vice President of Jilin University and representatives from the Office of Global Engagement (Northeast Center for International Chinese Language Education) participated in the relevant activities during the conference.
Yang Zhenbin was invited to attend the Confucius Institutes Headquarter Council Roundtable and exchanged views with council members and senior consultants from over 10 countries on the development of international Chinese language education.
Before the Opening Ceremony of the Conference, Yang Zhenbin and Zhao Hongwei met with Chinese and international representatives from 5 JLU overseas Confucius Institutes and partner Confucius Institutes, including Confucius Institute at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in U.S.A, Confucius Institute at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in Ukraine, Confucius Institute at University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, Confucius Institute at Kansas State University in U.S.A, Confucius Institute at Hanyang University in R.O.K., as well as Groningen Confucius Institute in the Netherlands and the Confucius Institute at the University of Queensland in Australia.
On the afternoon of December 9th, Zhao Hongwei was invited to co-chair the Workshop themed on “Brand Construction of Chinese Language Education” with Prof. Cho Dong-sung, President of Incheon National University in R.O.K.. At the workshop, representatives shared experience on how to run projects and optimize the development of “Chinese Bridge” project.
On December 10th, Dr. Zhang Guangcui, Director of the Office of Global Engagement (Northeast Center for International Chinese Language Education), was invited to make presentations at the workshops “Universities at Home and Abroad Should Play a Major Role in Building Confucius Institute” and “Experience Sharing on Brand Projects of Overseas Chinese Language Education”.
Confucius Institute at the University of Buenos Aires, with Jilin University as its partner university, was awarded the titles of “Confucius Institute of the Year” and “Excellent Test Center of Chinese Test (2018-2019)”. It was the third time that it had won the title of “Confucius Institute of the Year” after 2009 and 2011.
At the working meeting, representatives from JLU and 5 overseas Confucius Institutes reached consensus on Impact Enhancement Agenda 2020, Online Teaching Platform, “Insight into Northeast China” Workshop for principals and educators and “Insight into Northeast China” Summer Tour & Workshop for students, to support the development of JLU Confucius Institutes in 2020.
